HIDDEN (Hide Or Die)

Chaper 1

KYLE'S P.O.V.

What I was doing was wrong, and I knew that. But I couldn't help it. I also knew that if I got caught, it would be a lot worse than the last time. Yet I paid no attention to the warnings that kept flashing at the front of my mind.

I tried to keep my footsteps as light as possible while maintaining a reasonable distance as I followed him. A stalker—God, I hate that word—but who am I kidding? That's what I was. Though not by choice.

Please, don’t judge me. In time, you'll understand the reasons behind my actions.

My name is Kyle, the name my mother chose for me when I was born seventeen years ago. And yes, I'm an unrepentant stalker.

You must be curious about who I was stalking, especially if I was willing to risk getting caught again. To put it simply, he's the definition of a truly good person. The best I've ever known. Not that I knew him personally—but actions speak louder than words, and the more I observed him, the more I realized the depth of his kindness and gentleness. And, of course, he's incredibly handsome.

Andrew. Even his name sounds dreamy every time it escapes my lips. I've been in love with him for many years, and I'll continue to be for many more. For seven years, I only watched him from the shadows. I knew it wasn’t healthy or right, but I couldn’t stop myself. Every time I tried to pull away, my heart ached. So I needed to be near him somehow. Being out in the open wasn’t an option, so I hid behind stone walls and large, aging oak trees, making do with what I had.

****

The first time I saw Andrew was back when we, my mother and I, first moved to the neighborhood, thirteen years ago. He was only the boy across the street that I admired and wished as a friend. But that was no possibility. As time went on, my feelings grew stronger, and I no longer wanted to be friends. But rather wished for more. At night I couldn't sleep, and through the day I was too tired to function enough to do the limited work I had.

One sleepless night, I was laying in the darkness, thinking. I had finally decided to do something about it and was trying to come up with a solution to my helpless case. That is where the stalking comes in. And in my sleep-deprived, hopeless state- it sounded perfect.

You must wonder, why didn't I just modestly approach him? And the answer to that is fairly simple; I couldn't.

I'm no normal teenage boy. I'm an abnormality to society. An abomination. To people; I'm monstrous. A freak.

I'm no longer affected by those names and titles thrown at me. I made my peace with them long ago.

****

Thirteen years ago

Kyle remembers the first time he sneaked out, how couldn't he? It was his biggest mistake.

He was four at the time, pushing his legs up the stairs to the attic as fast as his small frame would allow. He could hear their laughs and screeches of joy as he peeked from the bounded window. He cracked up his neck as far as it would go to get a glimpse of the kids playing outside.

They were chasing after one another and it

looked fun and interesting. Kyle pouted slightly, wanting so badly to go and play with them. But he knew his mum wouldn't allow it. He was locked in.

His mother was strict about his one rule. She had him repeat it every morning once he woke. And every night before bed.

Hide or die!

Which in return forbade him from going outside.

Their voices got louder the nearer they got to his front yard, he yearned to join them in their games, and have them as friends. He knew his mother would never approve, but she wasn't around today. He might as well sneak out to meet them.